It's not often that new, exciting medieval games are turned on their head Steamand see how popular and well received Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was only last year, now the bar is even higher. However, Steam has a new gem that you can wishlist right now, coming out in March 2026, called 1348 Ex Voto. If you don't know his viral status on social media, Ex Voto was announced just this week and managed to take the internet by storm thanks to its historically accurate characters and setting, while also featuring a female knight as the main character and an award-winning actor from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
1348 Ex Voto is an action-adventure game with an emphasis on swordsmanship, a deep story set in 14th century Italy and a noble knight trying to find and save his “neighbor”, a nun named Bianca. The main character, Aeta, is not explicitly confirmed to be a lesbian, but is largely implied to be romantically attracted to or in a relationship with Bianca, a bold choice that can be read as a statement considering the socio-political climate of the time and the fact that religion condemned such relationships extremely harshly. The game is very close Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 in terms of style and setting, but is heavily infused with LGBTQIA+ themes, which is especially evident with Aeta's non-binary actor (Alby Baldwin) and Jennifer English as Bianca.
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How 1348 Ex Voto Compares to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
1348 Ex Voto transports players to the turbulent world of medieval Europe during the Black Death, a time of immense suffering, fear and superstition. The game world is immersed in the atmosphere of plague-ravaged villages authentic to the interior of medieval Italy, where survival and faith intertwine in a desperate struggle against an unseen deadly force. Speaking of, Aeta can use two different stances that change the way the sword spreads, being one-handed and two-handed, while also giving you the ability to change things up with sword parts you find, alongside books that teach you new combos. The game doesn't seem to focus much on RPG features like it is KCD2but it takes its setting and narrative as key parts of the experience.
on the other hand, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 takes place in the 15th century in medieval Bohemia, after the events of the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance. The game leans heavily on political intrigue, war, and power struggles as it depicts a larger world with a focus on kingdoms, knights, and the consequences of conflict. The bleakness of the previous game is enhanced with new areas to explore and new threats to face, but this time the focus is on battles, territorial control and the aftermath of war. It's a game where choice matters, and you can really do whatever you want, whether it's stacking bodies outside the village or becoming an honorable knight.
1348 Ex Voto Is Already Labeled 'The Lesbian Knight Game' And It Matters More Than You Think
One of the most distinctive and progressive aspects 1348 Ex Voto her heroine is a knight in a medieval setting, especially one steeped in 14th century social norms and gender roles. As the player, you find yourself in the shoes of a woman who seemingly has her own romantic and emotional connection with a nun – a relationship that directly challenges both the rigid religious doctrines of the time and her views on the roles of women. At a time when women were expected to conform to certain roles (whether as dutiful wives, nuns or mothers), the play takes a bold step by portraying an intimate story between them. Knight video games don't always do something this bold, but in the game's case, it's a refreshing value Ex Voto.
Aeta's love for Bianca, whether platonic or romantic, serves as a powerful counterpoint to the overarching themes of faith, survival, and personal identity in 14th century Italy. 1348 Ex Voto alone. Their relationship is not just a secondary element, but rather a central part of the emotional core of the game as Aeta tries to find her beloved. As the protagonist faces the horrors of the plague and the moral dilemmas of survival, her love for Bianca can become a way for the play to explore themes of forbidden love, religious conflict, and personal sacrifice for those we care about in such desperate times. The emotional stakes here are high, as the protagonist may have to reconcile her love for a woman in a society that condemns such relationships while dealing with the overarching devastation of the Black Death. Some of the best LGBTQIA+ games have managed to achieve something similar, and hopefully Ex Voto thrives on its story and characters.
Why Expedition 33's Jennifer English is Perfect for 1348 Ex Voto
While the play does not confirm whether the relationship between Aeta and Bianca is purely platonic, 1348 Ex Voto she has already amassed a huge fan base on social media and is being praised for her lesbian representation. Clair ObscuroJennifer English is a perfect choice for this game, even if she doesn't voice the main character, and her acceptance speech for Best Performance at The Game Awards 2025 proves it. Her presence alone gives the story and characters of the game more relevance than ever and with an incredible performance as Maelle Expedition 33 or Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3, Ex Voto is already well equipped to become a hit.
- Released
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February 4, 2025
- ESRB
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Adults 17+ / Use of alcohol, blood and gore, sexual content, strong language, intense violence, partial nudity
- Developers
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Warhorse Studios
